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The 2020/21 footballing calendar is in its final few months, with the top European leagues and Champions League set to conclude in May. The summer transfer window beckons us as well, with clubs ready to splurge big money on some of the top talents in world football. The likes of Haaland, Mbappe, and Neymar are rumored to be on the move and it will be interesting to see how clubs line up next season.
However, not all transfer signings pan according to the script, with some new recruits unable to make a mark at the club. As we’ve seen in the case of Alvaro Morata, the striker moved to Atletico Madrid on a £31.5 million fee - only to be loaned out to Juventus in the same transfer window. In such cases, the players are under-utilized at their parent club, and the transfer makes no sense.
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5 players who did nothing for the clubs they signed for
#5 Jonathan Woodgate | Real Madrid
Woodgate arrived at the Spanish capital with huge expectations from fans in England and Spain, but never managed to establish himself as a “Galactico.”
In an injury-laden Real Madrid career, the Englishman spent a year out injured in three seasons at the club. Woodgate was considered one of the finest Premier League defenders at the time, but never managed to find a regular spot in the starting lineup - making 14 appearances for Madrid. The Englishman’s Real Madrid debut was typical of his time at the club - scoring an own goal and getting sent off against Athletic Bilbao in a La Liga encounter.
Woodgate was an extremely talented center-back, but a long history with injuries marred his career progression. Real Madrid doctors failed to detect a thigh injury at his medical for the club, which saw Woodgate spend his year at Madrid on the sidelines.
#4 Oguzhan Ozyakup | Arsenal
Next up is former Gunners midfielder Oguzhan Ozyakup, who managed to make just 2 appearances for the Londoners.
The Turkish international came through the ranks at Arsenal - starting from U18 and U23 level at their youth club, before taking the next step. Ozyakup made his Premier League debut in the 2011/12 season, but never really managed to establish a place in Arsenal’s squad, let alone the starting XI. His first promotion came when he was called up to the Arsenal squad in an encounter against Manchester United. The unused substitute witnessed the 8-2 drubbing at the hands of their arch-rivals.
Ozyakup managed to notch up an assist in a League Cup encounter against Shrewsbury Town before being sold to Bestikas in 2012.
#3 Julian Faubert | Real Madrid
Taking the third spot on the podium is former Hammers’ fullback, Julian Faubert, who notched up a 54-minute appearance in his loan spell.
While Faubert was more than a decent footballer, he looked like a fish out of water in Madrid’s star-studded lineup. The Frenchman was known more for his antics off-field than on it during his time in the Madrid capital. While on the pitch-side for Madrid’s encounter against Villareal, Faubert dozed off and even went on to miss training the next day, mistakenly thinking that he had an off. The fullback later recalled that he had only closed his eyes because he was bored.
Even though Faubert was bought on as a loan signing, Real Madrid had to pay a €1.5 million loan fee to the Hammers, before sending him back to West Ham six months later. The option to buy on the Frenchman’s loan clause was never activated.
#2 Papy Djilobodji | Chelsea
While Faubert enjoyed a 54-minute appearance in the whites of Madrid, Papy Djilobodji was in action for a mere 59-seconds for Chelsea.
The Senegalese was a “panic buy” for the Blues, who failed to land their initial targets in the transfer window - John Stones and Raphael Varane. The central defender never featured for the club beyond that 59-second appearance against Walsall in a third-round League Cup tie. Papy Djilobodji was loaned out after six seasons at the club, where he failed to impress Jose Mourinho, and was eventually sold after a year at Stamford Bridge.
However, Chelsea’s proficiency in the window allowed them to earn a profit off the center-back - releasing Papy Djilobodji for more than double the £4million they paid for him.
#1 Keirrison | FC Barcelona
The Brazilian joined the Blaugrana after a £13million move from Desportivo Brazil, and was a bright young talent back in the day. However, he was never to be seen in action for Barcelona - spending all of the 5-years on loan.
While others on our list have played a few matches here and there, Keirrision failed to make even a single appearance for Barcelona. The Brazilian was loaned out just 5 days after he arrived in Spain, and it is hard to understand why the Blaugrana’s even signed him in the first place if he was to spend all 5 years as a Barcelona player on loan, without ever getting a chance to prove himself. Keirrison enjoyed loan spells at European clubs like Benfica and Fiorentina, along with a host of Brasileiro Série A clubs - Santos, Cruzeiro and Coritiba, among others.
Barcelona seemed intent on selling him from the minute he signed on for the club, and this was perhaps reflective of the Blaugrana’s inefficiency in the transfer market.
